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No tolerance for corruption
Bill needed to tackle wrongs by powerful figures The ruling Saenuri Party has announced a plan to legislate a law aimed at rooting out corruption by the president’s relatives, aides and top government officials. The proposed bill is seen as an effort by Park Geun-hye, the governing party’s presidential nominee,…
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Column
Getting over that thing called death
I am not afraid of death. I got over that when I was about 10 years old. It is not that I want to die but I kind of figured out that it is not only inevitable but perhaps not such a terrible thing. It all happened when I was…
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Business
BOK freezes key rates at 3%
Despite the recent gloomy economic news, the Bank of Korea’s (BOK) seven-member monetary policy committee kept key rates at 3 percent Thursday. However, market watchers feel that a further lowering of borrowing costs is coming sooner than later as the blizzard of bad data makes it difficult for policymakers to…
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Column
Perception gap between Korea and abroad
Koreans had long complained that foreigners underestimate them. Nowadays, however, Koreans are puzzled by how foreigners seem to overestimate them. Positive news stories regarding Korea’s achievements abound these days. For instance, in arts and entertainment, rebellious Korean director Kim Ki-duk’s film, “Pieta,” recently won the coveted Golden Lion for best…
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Column
Seoul’s strategic relationship with Beijing
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the normalization of South Korea-China diplomatic relations. Now, South Korea plays a global role, and China is the No. 2 economy in the world. Nonetheless, the quiet atmosphere of celebrating the 20th anniversary reflects that the strategic cooperation partnership between South Korea and…
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Column
US ‘pivot’ toward China
A new word has come into vogue over the past year as the United States draws down its forces in Afghanistan and gets out of Iraq. The word is “pivot.” We’re told the U.S. is “pivoting” toward Asia, focusing on this part of the world after having concentrated on the…
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Foreign workers’ quota to rise next year
The nation will issue 62,000 foreign workers permits next year, up by 5,000 from this year’s quota, to meet growing labor demand here. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced next year’s foreign workforce quota Thursday after a meeting of related ministers. “We’ve decided to increase the quota to relieve labor…
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Lifestyle
A town full of colors
Beneath Naksan Park lies a beautiful village full of murals. But getting there isn’t easy. You need to walk up a long, uphill road which, when you’re walking on it, makes you feel as if you’re walking on a moving stairway, back through time. The park is located in the…
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Politics
Presidential aide bets against Ahn’s bid
Was it wishful thinking or a conclusion made on the basis of facts? A Cheong Wa Dae official voiced a pessimistic view, Thursday, on the prospects of Ahn Cheol-soo running in the presidential race. This came amid campaign watchers being divided over whether he will declare a bid to become…
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Column
[Indonesia Report] British couple feared to be imprisoned 20-years in Indonesia
Julian Ponder and Rachel Dougall, both are British nationality, are facing a 20-year imprisonment. Indonesian police arrested Ponder and Dougall on May 19. They were arrested in their villa in Tabanan, Bali, after another British woman, Lindsay June Sandiford, who was arrested earlier told police that she had handed over the…
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